The 2011 Home Run Derby is behind us now, and it feels like only three and a half hours ago that it hadn't even begun. Over the course of the broadcast, we watched players hit home runs, and we watched players not hit home runs, and a gay old time was had by some number of viewers and participants.
Robinson Cano deafeated Adrian Gonzalez, needing just six outs in the final round to best Gonzalez's total of 11 dingers. With 12. In the final round, Cano hit 12 dingers. It gave him a three-round total of 32, which is only 105 fewer homers than he's hit in his career, said a lot of people who don't understand how home runs work.
A few closing thoughts before I pack up and go home, by which I mean close this tab and search Google for penguins sliding on ice:
(1) The home run derby can pretty much involve whoever it wants
Robinson Cano hit 32 home runs and Jose Bautista hit four home runs in a home run-hitting competition. I warned you about those Chase Field park factors!
Here is Cano holding up the home run derby trophy handed to him by former manager Joe Torre, who is wearing a sling. Note that there are three arms holding up the trophy. Considering the trophy was handed to Cano by an old man in a sling, I do not think it requires three arms to lift, unless Cano and his father are just that tired.
(3) Santa Claus lives in Phoenix and really likes Pepsi
(4) The home run derby isn't so bad if you liveblog the whole thing
So you guys can think about that for next time.
(5) It is seemingly easier to hit home runs to Katy Perry than it is to hit home runs to Nicki Minaj
This evening didn't go completely for naught, and we'll just have to watch and see whether David Ortiz changes his training regimen, now that we've discovered some science.